Hahah no not really. This blog will probably be the closest thing I'll get to becoming one. But one of my rommmates is an editor for a school newspaper and she was short and article, so she asked me to write about my view as Egypt as a foreigner. I hope I did a good job. It still needs to be edited by her and other people working on the newspaper but this is what I have so far...
Its 3 am, the weather has finally cooled off. Little kids are running around with their families. Taxis are trying to get new customers with catchy Disney tunes and blight blue flashing lights. Young couples are strolling along the Nile River while groups of friends are racing in horse drawn carriages on the highways alongside fancy sedans. Welcome to Cairo. To her people she’s known as “Al om al dunia”, or “mother of the world.” To a foreigner she is an amazing city full of crazy stories, frustrations, and most importantly excellent opportunities. As a study abroad student I was able to learn Arabic from Arabs, live in an area that housed one of the world’s greatest civilizations, and gain a different insight on life by living in a different culture. However, living in Cairo is by no means easy, because life here is extremely chaotic. Cars have no form of traffic system, the drivers drive how and where they please only honking their horns to prevent accidents. There are no crosswalks or stoplights forcing pedestrians to weave in and out of the jumbled stream of traffic. The metro cars are always jammed packed, goods aren’t consistently offered in grocery stores, and once a month the electricity goes out. It is also imperative for women not to make eye contact with men, unless they want to be followed and haggled. It is true that Egypt is a hospitable country, but the majority of the foreigners live separately. They live their own lives, and are catered to with familiar necessities. This is a relief, because it prevents home from feeling so far away. At the same time it is very frustrating. The majority of my friends are American. I didn’t travel halfway across the world to be friends with more Americans. I have some Egyptian friends, but only because I joined a language exchange program. I have three Egyptian friends that are girls, which is surprising because I am a girl. One would think that making friends of the same sex would be easier. Also, many Egyptian males act that it is ok to take advantage of foreign girls. My friends and I have encountered too many situations of being followed, being teased and having rocks thrown at us. Although these problems are very wearisome, I absolutely love Egypt and can’t decide whether or not to extend my stay. People are always with positive spirits, and have a special complementing phrase for every occasion. Egyptians are serious about preserving their culture, maintaining family ties and football. I have attended several football games and am always amazed to see how passionate, dedicated and emotional grown men can be about a sport. I wish all Americans had the same attitude. There is also always something to do in Egypt such as touring ancient and religious sites, haggling over prices in Khan el-Khaleli market, sailing down the Nile River, gazing at the city lights from the “moqattam” or just chilling with friends in one of the many coffee shops. Egypt has the best of the best and the worst of the worst. The experiences I have had here have taught me important lessons that will help me fully and successfully live life.
